Tag Archives: Kruger

Kruger sent a letter to its employees recently to say the company has been falsely accused of holding back information regarding the pension formula.

On Monday, the CEP held a pair of emergency union meetings in Corner Brook to discuss the alleged discovery that the negotiated proposal to grant the company a 5 year extension to make up for a deficit in pension plans would change the benefit formula.

Bruce Randell, president of CEP Local 242, said the reduction in pensions of current employees could be as much as 25% in 2014.

The deadline to approve the funding relief measures is Thursday.

The letter, signed by Daniel Archambault, chief operating officer of the Industrial Products Division of Kruger Inc., said “the company never had any intention to renege on its 2005 commitment and it is appalling to hear such declarations after we have helped the mill survive the recent recession and worked relentlessly with the unions to find solutions to secure the Corner Brook operation for the long term.”

Read more from The Western Star: Kruger says it was falsely accused by unions

More than 50 unionized Kruger’s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper workers had a quiet demonstration at the gates of the mill at shift change this morning in Newfoundland.

The workers are drawing attention to the number of contractors Kruger is employing after laying off several dozen unionized workers.

While the main gate was the site of the demonstration, some workers also gathered at the east gate that is most often used by contractors. The workers didn’t disrupt the traffic flow.

The demonstration, which started at 6:30am was over before the end of the shift change at 8am.

Source:
Mill workers protest use of contractors

The workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper are meeting again today with management to discuss their pension plan.

At issue is the fact their pension plan is tens of millions of dollars short.

Their employer, Kruger, is asking for 10 years to repay that shortfall, rather than 5, in order to help them keep the mill profitable.

The workers are being asked to vote on this proposal. To pass, Kruger needs support from two-thirds of the current workers and retirees.

Read more:
Kruger makes pension pitch to mill workers, retirees (CBC)

Workers at Kruger‘s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador held a demonstration this morning before reporting for their shifts.

The workers were protesting Kruger’s decision to hire contract workers for maintenance duties.

Dwayne Avery, vice-president of the union representing millwrights and machinists, said workers are upset that Kruger Inc. is not hiring displaced mill employees first.

Read more:
Mill workers stage pre-shift protest (CBC)

Next week the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Union Pensioners Committee will be meeting with retired employees from Kruger’s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill to discuss proposed changes to their pension plans.

The proposed changes are not yet known publicly. Spokesperson Gerald Parsons said there are roughly 500 pensioners from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and its predecessor, Bowater, who will be affected by the changes parent company Kruger Inc. is proposing.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has granted Kruger the right to seek the permission of pensioners to change the funding of their pensions.

Understandably, there is a lot of concern over what these changes may be. Many retirees plan the year of their retirement based on their expected annual income during their retirement.

The sessions with the pensioners are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday at 10am and 2pm at the Elks Lodge in Corner Brook.

Source:
Committee to meet with mill retirees (The Western Star)

Kruger has just cut 187 jobs at its New Westminster paper mill in British Columbia.

The company will be shutting down two of the mill’s four production lines. These two lines were described by Chuck Stewart, the mill’s general manager, as inefficient and outdated. These two lines make toilet and other tissue items. The remaining two lines produce other consumer and commercial tissue products.

Most of the employees being cut are represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 456.

One of the mill’s workers, Chris May, said “We were told by the company that we could work for free and we would still be losing money.”

The job losses will be effective on August 31. About 400 jobs will remain at the mill.

The New Westminster Mill is 90 years old. Kruger bought the plant 15 years ago from Scott Paper Ltd.

Read more:
(The Vancouver Sun)
(The Province)
(The Gazette)

The meetings between Kruger and the 8 union locals representing its workers at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill have concluded and the word is at least 43 full time jobs have been cut.

31 of the jobs were CEP members.

8 machinists, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, received notice today, and 4 more machinists will be laid off at a later date.

In an internal memo accidentally released by Kruger last week, the company said mills of comparable size are operating with 135 fewer employees than the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.

The memo also mentioned the labour costs per tonne at the mill are $40 more than North American average of $100 and its main competitor plans to reduce its to $80.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is the only pulp and paper mill still operating in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Read more:
More layoffs at Kruger’s Corner Brook mill (CBC)
Mill cutting at least 43 full-time jobs in Corner Brook (The Western Star)
Layoffs Begin at Corner Brook Mill (VOCM)

The Western Star is reporting that Kruger is in the process of cutting jobs today at its Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.

Their sources say that all 8 union locals in the mill will have a separate meeting with the company throughout the day today.

The first union that met this morning was reportedly informed that some jobs falling under their umbrella were being cut.

Source:
Jobs being cut at Corner Brook mill (The Western Star)

Kruger sent an internal memo to CBC in Newfoundland and Labrador this afternoon, seemingly by accident.

In the internal memo, the company mentions the production costs at their Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador are well above the average in North America, and the mill would operate more efficiently with 135 less workers in the mill.

The memo mentions the labour costs per tonne at the mill are $40 more than North American average of $100 and its main competitor plans to reduce its to $80.

Kruger wants to protect its jobs, but its goal is to “reduce its workforce accordingly” so it can rank within the first quartile of the industry.

Source:
Corner Brook mill facing job cuts, Kruger memo says (CBC)
View the Internal Memo
Mill’s leaked memo verifies reports of cuts (The Western Star)

This morning’s closed door meeting between Kruger and the Union (CEP) representing the workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper has concluded.

No immediate job cuts were announced, however, Kruger plans to explore a “manning reorganization and rationalization” of the workforce in the first quarter of 2012.

Kruger is still working on the details and will meet with the unions again within the first quarter.

Read more:
Corner Brook mill softens planned cuts
Breaking: No Immediate Cuts at Corner Brook Mill (VOCM)